Resting in the heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country, Lovedale thrives as a winery destination surrounded by picturesque vineyards and state and national parks. Spas, art galleries and gourmet restaurants entice you indoors, while hot-air ballooning and horseback riding excursions reveal the great outdoors.
Things to do in Lovedale
Boutique cellar doors in Lovedale welcome you to sip and sample the region’s acclaimed semillon, shiraz and verdelho vintages. Many wineries also provide olive oil tastings, art shows and wine and food pairings. Visit Sandalyn Estate to learn winemaking and pasta making skills, before lunching at Tatler Wines Tapas Cafe to enjoy spectacular views of the Broken Back Range.
Explore the town centre’s galleries and boutiques, including Emma’s Cottage Art Gallery, which houses landscape art and photography by local artists. Emma’s Cellar Door offers wine tastings from grape varietals grown on the Emma’s Cottage Vineyard. Browse Ogishi Craft Centre to find intricate glass artworks by renowned artists, such as Setsuko Ogishi.
You can create fusion Asian dishes at Major Land Cooking School and pick up smoked meats at Lovedale Smokehouse Gourmet Pantry. Sample confections at Hunter Valley Chocolate Company and visit Sabor in the Hunter for sweet wine and chocolate pairings.
Just a few minutes outside town you’ll find Pokolbin and Cessnock state forests, as well as Werakat and Watagans national parks. Keep an eye out for native kangaroos and birds while hiking, horseback riding or picnicking. Start your morning with a hot-air balloon excursion over Hunter Valley, then relax with afternoon tea at Saber Tea Room.
Getting there
Lovedale is two hours from Sydney by car and about 25 kilometres from Newcastle Airport. From Newcastle, transportation options include rental cars, limousines, shuttles and public buses. Taxis and wheelchair-accessible private vehicles offer rides to wineries and the state and national parks.